All news

Ballantyne Reports Diluted Q3 EPS of $0.33 on 93% Increase in Net Revenues to $63.4 Million

November 03, 2011

OMAHA, Nebraska (November 3, 2011) Ballantyne Strong, Inc. (NYSE Amex: BTN), a provider of digital cinema projection equipment and services, cinema screens and other cinema products, today reported all-time record financial results for the third quarter (Q3) and nine months ended September 30, 2011.

Third Quarter Highlights

• Net revenues increased 93% to $63.4 million compared to Q3 2010.
• Operating income increased 86% to $6.6 million compared to Q3 2010.
• Achieved diluted earnings per share of $0.33 compared to $0.16 per share in Q3 2010.

Third Quarter Results
Ballantyne Strong’s net revenues almost doubled to an all-time quarterly record $63.4 million, led by a 167% year-over-year increase in digital product sales.  The large rise included revenues from Ballantyne’s successful full-scale digital cinema deployment on behalf of long-time customer Marcus Theatres®, a division of The Marcus Corporation (NYSE: MCS), which contributed in excess of 50% of the Company’s top-line results for the period.  Cinema service revenues more than doubled to $4.6 million when compared to Q3 2010, largely due to a significant increase in projection system installation revenues generated by the Company’s STS Services Group, including the Marcus Theatres rollout.  

Cinema screen sales were $2.4 million during the three-month period, versus $5.0 million a year ago.  The decline was primarily a result of exhibitors accelerating their digital 3-D rollouts in anticipation of certain 3-D movie releases in prior quarters.

The Company generated 86% growth in operating income to $6.6 million, up from $3.5 million in the year-ago quarter.  Net earnings were $4.7 million, or $0.33 per diluted share, a more than 100% increase compared to $2.3 million, and $0.16 in Q3 2010, respectively.  

Consolidated gross profit increased 55% to $10.0 million, or a 15.8% gross margin on net revenues, compared to gross profit of $6.5 million, or 19.6% of net revenues in the year-earlier period.  The gross profit increase was mainly due to Ballantyne’s significant year-over-year rise in digital product sales.  The margin decline was primarily attributable to an increase in the contribution of digital product sales to the revenue mix, as these carry higher price points but lower margins.

Selling expenses were $0.9 million, or 1.5% of net revenues, compared to $0.7 million in Q3 2010, or 2.2% of net revenues.  The year-over-year increase was primarily due to the hiring of additional personnel to expand international and service marketing efforts, as well as supporting the Company’s China-based sales offices.  General and administrative expenditures were $2.5 million, or 4.0% of revenues, versus 2.2 million, or 6.7% of prior-year revenues.  The increase reflects higher personnel costs and professional fees, but the percentage of revenues declined on a year-over-year basis, reflecting the large top-line increase.

Nine-Month Results
Net revenues rose 46.0% to $132.9 million.  Gross profit rose 36.8% to $22.9 million, and was 17.2% of net revenues, versus $16.7 million, or 18.4% of net revenues.  Net earnings were $8.7 million, or $0.60 per diluted share, compared to net earnings of $6.1 million, or $0.42 per diluted share, in the first nine months of 2010.

Balance Sheet and Cash Flow Update
Ballantyne’s cash and cash equivalents balance at quarter-end was $22.4 million, compared to $22.3 million at December 31, 2010.  The $30 million increase in receivables during Q3 was a temporary phenomenon due to funds owed to Ballantyne from digital equipment sales during Q3, and the majority of those funds have been collected subsequent to September 30.  The Company generated cash flow from operations of $2.3 million and spent approximately $2.4 million on capital expenditures, during the nine months ended September 30, 2011.

Commenting on the Company’s record operating results, President and CEO Gary L. Cavey stated, “The 2011 third quarter was a very strong reporting period for Ballantyne and the Marcus Theatres digital cinema deployment, including NEC projector sales and installations, was a big contributor to our success.  The Company’s cinema services group demonstrated why we are leaders in the industry, completing Marcus’s, large 550+ system rollout in only 45 days.

“Our talented, hardware-agnostic team members are equally adept at installing full theatrical circuits as they are with assisting smaller chains and individual theatres.  Our focus on expanding Ballantyne’s maintenance and NOC service customer base continues to grow as we strive to expand this easily scalable portion of our business that will bring us recurring revenues in the future.  Following the Marcus deployment, we are also providing annual maintenance services across their circuit and 24/7 proactive monitoring of all projection systems from our state-of-the-art NOC in Omaha.

“Another key element for Ballantyne is further expanding our array of products and services – both organically and through acquisitions and alliances.  Pursuant to this strategy, subsequent to quarter-end, we signed a key reseller agreement with Barco (NYSE Euronext Brussels: BAR), one of the worldwide leaders in cinema.  Adding their popular line of digital products is a very important addition and complementary to our NEC relationship, as our customers will benefit from more options to choose from as part of Ballantyne’s one-stop, turnkey cinema solutions,” concluded Mr. Cavey.

About Ballantyne Strong, Inc. (www.strong-world.com)
Ballantyne Strong is a provider of digital cinema projection equipment and services as well as cinema screens, motion picture projectors and specialty lighting equipment and services.  The Company supplies major and independent theater chains, top arenas, theme parks and architectural sites around the world.  Except for the historical information in this press release, it includes forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to, quarterly fluctuations in results; customer demand for the Company’s products; the development of new technology for alternate means of motion picture presentation; domestic and international economic conditions; the management of growth; and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company’s Securities and Exchange Commission filings.  Actual results may differ materially from management’s expectations.

Download the complete Q3 results with tables here

CONTACT:
Kevin Herrmann,
Vice President Ballantyne Strong, Inc.
402.453.4444

Robert Rinderman, David Collins
Jaffoni & Collins Incorporated
212.835.8500 or BTN@jcir.com 

Jaffoni & Collins Incorporated

Jaffoni & Collins Incorporated